Kraken Rum | Prices, Alternatives and Cocktail Recipes

The price of Kraken rum is about $19 for a 750 ml bottle. It is made from sugarcane molasses and infused with 13 different herbs and spices on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The exact recipe of the drink is kept in strict confidence.

As befits a spiced rum, the Kraken has a wonderfully stimulating spicy aroma and taste. The positive thing about this product is that the spices never gain the upper hand. There is enough space on the nose, for example, to develop seductively sweet notes of chocolate.

Is Kraken Rum Expensive?

Kraken rum’s price of $19 is higher than that of other popular rums such as Bacardi, Captain Morgan and Malibu.

When comparing similar spiced rums, the table below shows that the difference in quality of Kraken rum is not very different as compared to Bacardi Oakheart or Sailor Jerry’s rums. But the price of Kraken is 25% to 80% higher than these rums.

According to reviews, Bayou rum is similar priced but is far superior in its taste. So if you are after a great quality spiced rum, that should be your choice.

In summary, Kraken is definitely overpriced for its quality.

Why is Kraken Rum Black?

As is often the case with spiced rums, Kraken rum gets its rich coal-black color, not from time spent aging in oak barrels, but from the addition of caramel, just like in Bacardi Black.

Caramel is added to rums that have been blended from various vintages to take away a certain roughness that comes from blending. Note that by caramel we do not refer to the candy that we know it by. Caramels used to make spirits can come in a variety of tastes and aromas, from butterscotch to dry and smoky, depending on what temperature it is made at and with what kind of sugar.

Does Kraken Rum have Squid Ink in it?

No, but the marketing gimmick behind Kraken rum makes you believe so.

Unlike other brands such as Bacardi and Captain Morgan, there is no story behind Kraken rum. In fact, its story has been creative and presented in a scary male voice in its promotional videos.

It tells of how a long time ago a ship loaded with rum met with the terrible monster Kraken in the Caribbean waters. Trying to kill the monster, the sailors threw dynamite into the water. The Kraken swallowed the bait, but when the dynamite exploded, poisonous ink poured from the body of the monster, poisoning everything around it. And the ship sank into the abyss. The only thing that survived after this fight was a barrel of rum, on the basis of which this Spiced Rum was created.

It’s just that poisonous ink from the monster’s body has leaked into this barrel, and now everyone who drinks Kraken rum dooms himself to death. 

This brands has such slogans as “Let the beast into you!” and “Put The Beast in Your Belly!”.

The Taste

The first notes in the aroma of Kraken rum are vanilla and caramel, followed by shades of spices. It leaves a short but pleasant spicy finish with pronounced cinnamon flavor. It is quite sweet but does not border sugary. Despite the high level of strength, which is around 47%, alcohol is almost never felt.

The mild flavor of Kraken rum can be enjoyed both in pure form and by adding it to traditional cocktails. 

And if you want to experience an unusual sensation, the manufacturer advises mixing Kraken rum with your favorite energy drink. 

But remember that this is still a rum with a lot of alcohol strength in it!

Marketing Campaign

Kraken rum bottle’s design was developed by the British agency Stranger & Stranger. The patented Kraken rum bottle is a copy of the Queen Victoria rum bottle. It is a real work of art using modern graphic techniques. The bottle is unusual in shape and equipped with two handles that make it easy to carry.

Those who decide to buy Kraken rum will get Kraken’s teeth, the ink in a jar, a writing pen, a scientific journal, a DVD and a letter as a bonus. All this is carefully enclosed in a box with a bottle of Kraken Rum.

The original press kit is a kind of greeting from the past, and as it proves that a monster named Kraken actually existed.

For assistance in promoting their products, Proximo Spirits, the owner of this brand, turned to the New York advertising agency Dead as We Know It and Adam Gault Studios. Both are known as creators of unusually eye-catching and sometimes shocking advertising.

Recipes with Kraken Rum

The best way to drink Kraken rum is by mixing it in cocktails. Mixing it with cola or ginger beer remains highly popular.

Below are some drinks that you can make with this spiced rum.

1. Cuba Libre = Rum + Cola

Kraken Rum’s rich and spicy flavors pair impeccably with Cola.

To make it, take 1 part Kraken rum, 3 parts Cola and mix them in a glass full of ice. Garnish with a wedge of lime and serve.

2. The Kraken Zombie

The original Zombie cocktail and some of its other variations use 2 or 3 different rums in its recipe. But you can also make it with Kraken rum. Combine the following ingredients in a blender, mix it up nicely and pour in a mortifying Tiki mug.

• 2 parts Kraken Original Spiced Rum
• 3/4 parts lime juice
• 3/4 parts grapefruit juice (also check out this grapefruit cocktail)
• 1/2 parts orange curaçao
• 1/4 parts cinnamon syrup
• 1/4 parts grenadine
• 2 dashes Absinthe
• 1 dash Angostura bitters

3. Kraken Mai Tai

Mai Tai and Zombie are the two cocktails that changed the face of Tiki style drinks. Below is the Mai Tai recipe with Kraken rum. To prepare this drink, shake all the ingredients except Kraken rum in a shaker. Then pour the mixture into a glass full of ice cubes. Top up with Kraken rum.

• 2 parts Kraken Original Spiced Rum
• 1/2 parts orange curaçao
• 3/4 parts lime juice
• 1/4 parts orgeat
• 1/4 parts ginger syrup

4. Kraken Mojito

Prepare the most famous cocktail in the world with Kraken rum. Muddle the lime, sugar and mint in a tall glass. Then pour in the rum and crushed ice. Top up soda, garnish with a sprig of mint and lime wedge, and serve.

• 2 parts Kraken Original Spiced Rum
• 2 lime slices
• Muddled mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Sparkling water

5. Kraken Pina Colada

Add the following ingredients to a blender and blend until pineapple chunks become nice and smooth. Pour in a tall glass, garnish with a sprig of mint and pineapple wedge, and serve.

• 1 part Kraken Spiced Rum
• Ice cubes
• 1 part coconut cream (more dense and fatty as compared to coconut milk)
• ½ part coconut milk
• ½ part pieces of pineapple
• sugar according to taste

6. The Perfect Kraken Storm

This is an easy ginger beer long drink. Simply pour the ingredients into a glass with ice cubes. Stir a little and enjoy. Ingredients as follows:

• 1 or 1.5 parts Kraken Rum
• 3 or 2.5 parts ginger beer
• lime wedge
• Additional ginger syrup (if you want to make your drink more gingery)

7. Kraken Honey Suckler

Similar to Bees Knees with rum replacing gin as an ingredient. Simply shake all the ingredients in a shaker with some ice. Then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with sage leaves and serve. Ingredients as follows:

• 2 parts Kraken Rum
• 1 part fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 part honey syrup (1:1 honey to water)
• 3 sage leaves

8. Kraken Daiquiri

A different Daiquiri due to spice notes coming from the Kraken rum and Demerara syrup. To make this cocktail, shake all the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Ingredients as follows.

• 2 parts Kraken Rum
• 1 part fresh lime juice
• 1 part Demerara syrup

Kraken Rum Prices

Kraken rum has been released in various sizes. Below we compare the cost of 3 standard bottling volumes. As usual, the more you buy the cheaper it gets.

Below are the prices of this rum in various shops in USA. You can click through to visit the online stores.